The prospects loomed large this week for the possibility of Zimbabwe’s rival opposition camps forming a united front should a run-off be necessary.

"It's an automatic," Nkosana Moyo told reporters in Johannesburg. "Zimbabweans would like to see an end to Mugabe's mismanagement, so any configuration that leads to a run-off will see Mugabe on one side and everybody else on the other."

Moyo said there were understandings with Tsvangirai's main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on forming a national unity government if Mugabe lost. There was no immediate comment from the MDC.

Makoni, expelled from Mugabe's ZANU-PF party last month, and Tsvangirai, have promised to tackle the crisis marked by chronic food and fuel shortages, a virtually worthless currency and inflation of more than 100,000 percent.

But Mugabe, who blames economic woes on sabotage by his Western foes, says he and his ZANU-PF are braced for victory.

Opponents, who accuse Mugabe of rigging past elections, say such comments reinforce their fears that the vote will not be fair. Military chiefs have said they would never accept a Mugabe defeat.

Mugabe and his officials have been slapped with sanctions by Britain, the United States and other Western countries for cracking down on opponents and alleged human rights abuses.

The opposition campaigns have already risen what they see as election irregularities, pointing to reports that millions of excess ballots have been printed as well as plans to have police assist voters in polling booths.

Moyo said the lack of media coverage of the opposition campaigns, a flurry of late voter registrations and the failure of election authorities to properly educate Zimbabweans were further concerns that could mar the polls.

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